Ordinarily,the blue and yellow FIFA Fairplay flag straining against the grip of four ball boys would not elicit any emotion in me.However,these are not ordinary days and so my emotions are aroused if just because I do not want it to be only a media showpiece.A media showpiece for the Fifa World Cup in South Africa 2010.
Indeed, Mr Blatter your time in Fifa presidency has brought a lot of smiles to all the federations and especially when you historically helped in making Africa's hosting not only an idea but a reality, the melodic refrain of justice and fair play was chorused around the globe. For Egypt had first represented the continent in the 1934 World Cup and it took another thirty-six years before Africa was given a spot in the Finals.Then another forty years to be able to host the mundial.Hmmm,Mr. Blatter the walk has not been easy.But anyway forgive me, I digress!
Mr.Blatter,I know the FIFA Fairplay idea is to ensure that play and officiating on the field is fair.And everyone plays by the FIFA book and has access to the proverbial even playing field.
However a series of events in this World Cup have contrived to make a tragedy of fairplay.
The USA v Slovenia Group C match provided an insight to what must not be at the World Cup. After falling behind 2-0 in the first half,the Red,White and Blue Stripes got even in one of their gutsiest performances ever,only to be denied a game winning Maurice Edu strike in the dying embers of the match.Fair?Definitely not!Yet Malian referee Coman Koulibaly waved off the goal.A simple playback would have clarified the situation and prevented heart troubles!
Mr Blatter,I am sure you also familiar with the England- Germany second round match in which the English were denied a perfect goal scored by Frank Lampard was ignored by referee Jorge Larrionda of Uruguay. Indeed ,it goes without saying that this goal could either have been potentially the game-turning goal for the Three Lions or could have further inspired die Nationalelf to a much better performance.However, we will never know because fairplay was denied.
Also the Argentina-Mexico match in the second round in which Argentina went ahead in a clearly offside position through forward CarlosTevez.Argentina went on to win 3-1,but we would not truly know what would have been if the goal had rightly been ruled off-side. What we know is that fairplay was denied the El Tri of Mexico,with the attendant painful frustrations etc.
Again,Mr Blatter, in that stunner of a match where La Cote D'Ivoire dominated Brazil for 20 minutes before falling to a Luis Fabiano goal which had foul written all lover it. We can say that was a tide-turner for the Samba Boys of Brazil who went on to win 3-1. But what would have happened if that infringement had been penalized and the Fabiano goal annulled?But then again fairplay was denied.French referee Stephane Lannoy saw to that.
Mr. Blatter, I am sure you get the picture,but this is the last one I am going to talk about.Ghana was heading towards [in fact had it sewn up]victory late in the final period of extra time when an headed Dominic Adiyiah effort was clawed out by Luis Suarez. Referee Olegario Benquerenca of Portugal sent him off and awarded Ghana the penalty.But then again fair play was denied.Why?Because the ball crossed the line first ,so a goal should have been awarded. Second, a penalty which has a 50-50 chance of being converted is not enough or rather not the enough compensation.The Black Stars of Ghana should have been in the semis by now, if play had been fair. A video playback would have assisted the referee in coming to the right decision to ward off controversy.
Indeed,Luis Suarez even celebrated his paid-off gamble proving that a red card was not sufficient punishment.Thus to serve as deterrent in the future any goal bound shot handled by a player other than a goalkeeper must be awarded as goal to the shooter and the offender suspended for five competitive FIFA-sanctioned matches.
Mr. Blatter, your tenure has seen Africa awarded 5 places at the World Cup and its hosting the globe's most watched event for the first time ever and a host of changes that have made the World Cup a truly global affair.If change had been effected before this World Cup in terms of using technology to ensure fairplay,Ghana would have been in the semi-finals thus making history and that, sir,would have sealed your contribution to African football and fairplay in the World Cup as a whole.We look forward to another tenure for you as you stand again for the FIFA Presidency.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
GHANA RECEIVES LOW BLOW TO BOW OUT OF WC2010!
It was cruel,it was undeserved,it was even very stupid that Ghana should lose in the manner they did to Uruguay.Many people I encountered after the match have commented on how Ghana lost the opportunity to win the match by first making a hash of the first penalty on the stroke of end of extra time.And also missing two penalties during the penalty kick.
There were others who saw it differently,Bright of Irving, Texas says the blame goes squarely to Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez,who clawed out Adiyiahs goal-bound shot to deny the Africans a spot in the semifinals and history."If he had not INTENTIONALLY handle the ball,we would have been home and dry in the semis.What irks me even more is that he was caught on television on his way out in the tunnel celebrating!I can only say he and his sort always get their reward,see France?a visibly upset Bright said.
For me I think Fifa must revise their rules and make a goal bound shot cleared off the line count as a goal and the offender sent off.This might be a far-fetched idea seeing how Fifa is slow to effect any changes in their rule book! Incidentally Gyan and the other Black Stars said the ball crossed the line and the goal should have been given. But remember a certain disallowed England's potential match-turning goal, a week ago against Germany?
Again, a penalty is not always converted as a certain Roberto Baggio can attest to,that is the reason why Suarez risked a red card and a hand a crucial lifeline to Celeste to qualify for the semis.As it played out,his gamble paid off and he celebrated on his way to a late shower!Gyans resultant pk had cannoned off the crossbar with the goalie completely beaten,the shrill whistle ended Ghana's chance of winning in regulation time.
During the shootout,Asamoah Gyan and Stephen Appiah converted while spielfuhrer John Mensah and Dominic Adiyiah missed .Inspirational striker Forlan sunk for Uruguay while Abreu chipped Kingston to send his side into the semifinals.
Pastor Richard of Dallas said Ghana's inability to put a match away also led to this situation. Says he"When Ghana led the USA,they could not kill of the game until during extra time.That kind of play plays to the advantage of more experienced teams who could use any means to deny you as we saw"He believes however that this young team has a great future and if they are consistent in building they will become a force to recon with.
There were others who saw it differently,Bright of Irving, Texas says the blame goes squarely to Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez,who clawed out Adiyiahs goal-bound shot to deny the Africans a spot in the semifinals and history."If he had not INTENTIONALLY handle the ball,we would have been home and dry in the semis.What irks me even more is that he was caught on television on his way out in the tunnel celebrating!I can only say he and his sort always get their reward,see France?a visibly upset Bright said.
For me I think Fifa must revise their rules and make a goal bound shot cleared off the line count as a goal and the offender sent off.This might be a far-fetched idea seeing how Fifa is slow to effect any changes in their rule book! Incidentally Gyan and the other Black Stars said the ball crossed the line and the goal should have been given. But remember a certain disallowed England's potential match-turning goal, a week ago against Germany?
Again, a penalty is not always converted as a certain Roberto Baggio can attest to,that is the reason why Suarez risked a red card and a hand a crucial lifeline to Celeste to qualify for the semis.As it played out,his gamble paid off and he celebrated on his way to a late shower!Gyans resultant pk had cannoned off the crossbar with the goalie completely beaten,the shrill whistle ended Ghana's chance of winning in regulation time.
During the shootout,Asamoah Gyan and Stephen Appiah converted while spielfuhrer John Mensah and Dominic Adiyiah missed .Inspirational striker Forlan sunk for Uruguay while Abreu chipped Kingston to send his side into the semifinals.
Pastor Richard of Dallas said Ghana's inability to put a match away also led to this situation. Says he"When Ghana led the USA,they could not kill of the game until during extra time.That kind of play plays to the advantage of more experienced teams who could use any means to deny you as we saw"He believes however that this young team has a great future and if they are consistent in building they will become a force to recon with.
ghana v URUGUAY
I could not have predicted Holland's stunning defeat of Brazil a few hours ago,however that is football.So going into the next match between Ghana and Uruguay who have won the World Cup twice[1930,1950],its just a wait and see thing.
However with the mercy of God the overwhelming support of Africans for the only team left in the competition and history beckoning ,Ghana could yet prove experts wrong. They could step into the semis for the first time for Africa and also go through as as team that was not expected to deliver after a host of injuries,most notably Michael Essien their talismanic player who plays for Chelsea.However three, in fact four players[Ayew,Gyan,Boateng,Kingston] have stepped up to the plate to fill the inspirational roleof Essien.
For Uruguay having last participated in 1990 they already look devastating with all their goals coming from the Atletico Madrid man Diego Forlan and Suarez.They are solid but they are yet to be tried by any team and Ghana could yet provide that explosion.They are also looking to their cool coach Tabarez,who also led them in 1990 to provide the tactical grey matter to beat Ghana.
Whether they are able to achieve this or not will also depend on their fortitude. How they play after going down .
However this duel will be titanic with no quarter given or asked and as this World Cup has revealed,no one knows what will transpire until after the final whistle!However I do see Ghana making history if the referee's are fair.
However with the mercy of God the overwhelming support of Africans for the only team left in the competition and history beckoning ,Ghana could yet prove experts wrong. They could step into the semis for the first time for Africa and also go through as as team that was not expected to deliver after a host of injuries,most notably Michael Essien their talismanic player who plays for Chelsea.However three, in fact four players[Ayew,Gyan,Boateng,Kingston] have stepped up to the plate to fill the inspirational roleof Essien.
For Uruguay having last participated in 1990 they already look devastating with all their goals coming from the Atletico Madrid man Diego Forlan and Suarez.They are solid but they are yet to be tried by any team and Ghana could yet provide that explosion.They are also looking to their cool coach Tabarez,who also led them in 1990 to provide the tactical grey matter to beat Ghana.
Whether they are able to achieve this or not will also depend on their fortitude. How they play after going down .
However this duel will be titanic with no quarter given or asked and as this World Cup has revealed,no one knows what will transpire until after the final whistle!However I do see Ghana making history if the referee's are fair.
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